Culture secretary Lisa Nandy expected to meet leaders from TV, film and publishing and could legislate if voluntary action is deemed insufficient
Ministers have given the entertainment industry an ultimatum to bring in better protections for women and children or face government action after the allegations about David Walliams and the conviction of Russell Brand.
The culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, is expected to meet industry leaders next week, taking in representatives from TV, film, publishing and potentially sport.
The hope is that the sectors will strengthen protections voluntarily, but it is understood the government could look to act if ministers believe that efforts to prevent abuse and harassment, and to encourage whistleblowing, are insufficient.
It is not yet known which organisations Nandy will meet, or what the requests might be. One option, if legislation is needed, could be to make it mandatory for companies to sign up to the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA), which tackles bullying and harassment in the sector via confidential whistleblowing.
One government official said the expectation was for voluntary action. “The instinct is that Lisa would like the industries to show they are about to sort this out themselves, but we are not squeamish about stepping in if that does not happen,” they said.
